Review of the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome: Focus on Gabapentin Enacarbil

Journal of Central Nervous System Disease

Article

Rachel A. Burke¹  Michele A. Faulkner¹ 

[1] Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.;

关键词: restless legs syndrome;    RLS;    gabapentin enacarbil;    Horizant;    dopamine agonists;   

DOI  :  10.4137/JCNSD.S9107

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

The FDA approved gabapentin enacarbil in 2011 as the first non-dopaminergic agent for the treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms. Although gabapentin enacarbil is a pro-drug of gabapentin, its pharmacokinetics differ. Absorption of gabapentin enacarbil is more predictable, and inter-patient variability in bioavailability is lower than that of gabapentin. Studies have demonstrated superiority of gabapentin enacarbil compared to placebo. Comparisons to currently available RLS treatments are lacking, but clinical trials demonstrate comparable improvement in RLS symptoms to the dopamine agonists ropinirole and pramipexole, which are usually considered first-line therapy for daily RLS symptoms. Gabapentin enacarbil was well tolerated in clinical trials. The role of the drug in RLS treatment remains undefined, although it will likely be used as an alternative for refractory RLS when other treatments have failed. Additionally, gabapentin enacarbil may be recommended for patients with daily RLS symptoms that are less intense or are associated with pain as an alternative to dopamine agonists.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC   
© 2012 SAGE Publications.